Papal Astronomer Supports Evolution

The Rev. George Coyne, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, has weighed in on the controversy over teaching Intelligent Design according to a report yesterday from the Associated Press. His remarks give strong support to the teaching of evolution and to its consistency with religious doctrine. He said, "Intelligent design isn't science even though it pretends to be. If you want to teach it in schools, intelligent design should be taught when religion or cultural history is taught, not science." Earlier, in an article in the British Catholic magazine, The Tablet, Coyne said "If they respect the results of modern science, and indeed the best of modern biblical research, religious believers must move away from the notion of a dictator God or a designer God, a Newtonian God who made the universe as a watch that ticks along regularly." The Vatican Observatory, which Coyne heads, is one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world,and is based in the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. [Thanks to Joel Sogol via Religionlaw listserv for the information.]